Preliminary Report Released on the Crash of De Havilland DH-84 Dragon VH-UXG

From:  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/

A vintage plane still had fuel in its tanks after it crashed in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland last month, killing six people, a preliminary report into the tragedy has found.

The restored 1934 De Havilland Dragon crashed on Monday 1 October, killing pilot Des Porter, 68, his wife Kath, 61, Les D'evlin, 75, his wife Janice, 61, and John and Carol Dawson, both 63.

The preliminary report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the aircraft struck trees and the ground at a moderate to high speed as it was banking to the left.

Both fuel tanks ruptured and while there was evidence fuel had drained from the left-hand tank, about seven litres of Avgas remained in the right fuel tank.

"The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces. There was no fire," the report read.

"The accident was not survivable and the six occupants were fatally injured."

After taking off from Monto just after 11am on a flight to Caboolture, the pilot called Brisbane Air Traffic Control at 1.15pm asking for navigation assistance.

Three minutes later he advised the plane was in full cloud.

"For most of the remainder of the flight, the pilot and ATC exchanged communications, at times relayed through a commercial flight and a rescue flight in the area due to the limited ATC radio coverage in the area at low altitude," the report said.

At about 1.20pm a friend of one of the passengers received a phone call saying the plane was 'lost in a cloud' and losing altitude.

The pilot advised ATC at 1.48pm the aircraft had about an hour's fuel left.

His last transmission was received 16 minutes later.

The wreckage was found on Wednesday 3 October about 87km north west of Caboolture on the northern side of a steep, densely wooded ridge.

The final report into the cause of the crash will be completed by next October.

Some Weekend Action from Gladstone Airport

On Saturday 10 November, Kawasaki BK-117 B-1 helicopter VH-NGH was spotted by Jamie C as it passed through Gladstone Airport heading Northbound.  It departed to Mackay and then Cairns.  VH-NGH is registered to Rotor-Lift in Tasmania.

Meanwhile, on Sunday 11 November, Shane T ventured to Gladstone Airport and photographed a couple of the locally based helicopters that operate from Gladstone Airport.  Shown below are Heli-Reef (Aviation Tourism Australia) Bell 206L-3 VH-CKP and Aerospatiale AS.355F1 VH-ZWB.  VH-ZWB was also caught by Shane a little later returning to Gladstone Airport from parts unknown.

Reid Heliwork Robinson R44 VH-ROM was photographed near the General Aviation apron.

Lastly, commerical visitors to Gladstone Airport on Sunday 11 November included Virgin Australia (Skywest Airlines) ATR 72-600 VH-FVP.

Also noted were QantasLink Dash-8-Q300s VH-SBI and VH-SBT.

Great coverage as always - thanks Shane!

More Photos of the Quartet of King Airs at Gladstone Airport Last Week

Jamie C has sent though some absolutely stunning photos of the four King Air aircraft that arrived into Gladstone Airport from Chinchilla late on Thursday 8 November.  The aircraft included -

Coastwings / Sutherland Aviation Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-WXC

Brescon Beech B200 VH-WXN

Seair / Istlecote Beech B200 VH-MWQ

And Australasian Jet Beech B200 VH-ZMO

All four aircraft departed Gladstone for Brisbane on Friday 9 November.  Thanks Jamie!

A Few 'Other' Bizjets Around Central Queensland Airports This Week

Most of this weeks corporate bizjet and turbo-prop movements were based around Longreach where several lovely aircraft arrived to support the Royal visit to the town - see our post HERE.

However, there have been a few other corporate bizjet movements throughout Central Queensland this week, with various local, as well as a couple of lovely overseas corporate bizjets visiting.  Gulfstream G-IV VP-BMV popped into Rockhampton (and was caught below by 'IAD') on Thursday 8 November, while Gulfstream G-V HS-WEH popped into Gladstone on Friday 9 November.

Several Australian-based bizjets also called into various Central Queensland airports - and in particular Hamilton Island Airport!

On Saturday 3 November, a pair of bizjets arrived into Hamilton Island from interstate.  Shortstop Jet Charter's British Aerospace (BAe) BAe-125-1000B VH-LMP arrived from Melbourne (Essendon), while Menzies Aviation Cessna 525B CitationJet 3 N91GT arrived from Ballina/Byron Gateway Airport.  Both bizjets then departed on Tuesday 6 November, with VH-LMP returning to Essendon and N91GT departing to Bankstown.

Arriving into Hamo on Wednesday 7 November was Balmoral Air Dassault Falcon 2000EX VH-WIO (pictured below during a previous visit) which arrived from Bankstown.  It departed back there on Thursday 8 November.

Lastly, popping into Hamilton Island on Thursday 8 November was Sydney Jet Charter Bombardier CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-EVJ.  VH-EVJ arrived from Sydney, and on Friday 9 November, it was noted departing back to Sydney.

Other movements this week included the arrival and departure of Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP VH-SGY at Rockhampton Airport on Thursday 8 November.

Singapore Flying College Cessna 510 Citation Mustangs VH-VSQ and VH-SQY were both noted this week at Rockhampton and Mackay Airports.

The Queensland Police Service (Airwing) Cessna 560 Citation Ultra VH-PSU has again been busy flying into Rockhampton and Mackay Airports several times of the last week or so.

Finally, Mackay-based Cessna 525 Citation CJ2 VH-ZGP has been in and out of Mackay Airport a lot over the last week or so.  VH-ZGP has been noted flying through Rockhampton, Brisbane, Bansktown, Archerfield, Essendon, and Townsville.

Douglas DC-3 N451ZS To Pass Through Longreach Airport Soon!

With information originally posted on the GA Long Haul New Blog (HERE) is news that a Douglas DC-3 registered N451ZS is nearing the end of an epic journey from the United Kingdon (UK) to New Zealand (NZ).

The Douglas DC-3 N451ZS named "The Jean Batten Clipper", is operated by Airscapade, and has embarked on its long journey from the UK to NZ retracing the steps of Jean Batten.  On Friday 9 November, it was noted arriving into Jabiru Airport in the Northern Territory, after clearing customs in Darwin.  From Jabiru, it is expected to fly to Mount Isa and Longreach, where it is expected to land on Sunday 11 November.  From Longreach, it will pass through the Hervey Bay and Fraser Island, before crossing 'the ditch' to New Zealand, via Norfolk Island.

Enthusiasts can keep tabs on the progress of N451ZS on their website (HERE).

The Coffee Club Opens in Gladstone Airport Terminal

"Finally!"  Gladstone Airport has received a much long awaited second cafe, with The Coffee Club opening up inside the Gladstone Airport terminal.

It has opened in the 'airside' part of the terminal, meaning that passengers and visitors are able to enjoy a delicious coffee once they have passed the security check-point at Gladstone Airport.

Certainly long overdue, and given its position inside the terminal, hopefully a popular addition to Gladstone Airport!  We wish them all the best!

MJets Thai Gulfstream HS-WEH Plus A Quartet of King Airs at Gladstone Airport on Friday

On Friday 9 November - and making a relatively low-key arrival into Gladstone Airport from Brisbane - was MJets Gulfstream G-V bizjet wearing the Thailand registration marking of HS-WEH.

foxmike0420 / http://flightaware.com/

The Gulfstream stayed on the ground for at least a couple of hours before departing for Perth.

Meanwhile, four corporate King Air aircraft have this time invaded Gladstone Airport on Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) flights (it was Clermont Aerodrome last week - see HERE!), with all arriving from Chinchilla during the afternoon of Thursday 8 November.  All four aircraft were still parked at Gladstone Airport early on Friday 9 November.

The King Airs included:  Brescon Beech B200 VH-WXN, Seair / Istlecote Beech B200 VH-MWQ, Australasian Jet Beech B200 VH-ZMO and Coastwings / Sutherland Aviation Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-WXC - which has now been repainted into a more 'corporate' colour scheme rather than its bright livery of its former operator Titan Airways of Great Britain.

All four King Airs departed Gladstone for Brisbane during the afternoon of Friday 9 November.

Also noted at Gladstone Airport on Friday 9 November, was General Aviation Maintenance (GAM) AeroCommander 500-S VH-UJM which arrived on its usual weekday morning freight flight from Thangool / Biloela.  VH-UJM actually joined another GAM AeroCommander on the General Aviation (GA) Apron in the form of VH-UJX.  VH-UJX may have maintenance issues, with reports of engineers looking over the aircraft during the day.

A great day!

Exotic Gulfstrem Bizjet VP-BMV and More at Rockhampton Airport on Thursday

About mid-morning on Thursday 8 November I was told that local spotters had sighted a very nice visitor parked at Rockhampton airport in the form of Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV-X Gulfstream G450 VP-BMV.

Despite the heat haze, sincere thanks to Ben O for sending through a photo!

There were a couple of other bizjet visitors to Rockhampton Airport also on Thursday 8 November with the Queensland Government (State of Queensland) Raytheon Hawker 850XP VH-SGY also visiting.

Earlier in the day, Singapore Flying College Cessna 510 Citation Mustang VH-VSQ arrived from the Sunshine Coast.  It later departed to Mackay, before returning to Rockhampton and then back to the Sunshine Coast.

Meanwhile at Mackay Airport VH-VSQ was joined by another Singapore Flying College Mustang in the form of VH-SQY.  After taking on fuel, VH-SQY departed back to the Sunshine Coast, and VH-VSQ returned to Rockhampton.

An Update From The Qantas Founders Outback Museum (QFOM) at Longreach Airport

The Qantas Founders Outback Museum (QFOM) is literally a stone's throw away from the Longreach Airport terminal building in Central Western Queensland.

The Museum continues to change and expand, with recently-arrived Consolidated PBY Catalina VH-EAX being placed between the Boeing B747-200 VH-EBQ and Boeing B707 VH-XBA.  The Catalina has had its engines removed, and the Museum is keen to have the aircraft transported to Sydney for modifications and maintenance required to bring the aircraft up to a display standard.  The QFOM is encouraging interested people and members to support this project by making tax deductible donations.

Meanwhile, a new exhibit at the Museum is three F-35 simulators - for some serious fun!  They are Queensland-designed and made, and the fighter jets are fully networked, so the user can command their aircraft in various modes of simulation interaction between pilots, including the opportunity to participate in co-operative joint strike missions, modern fighter jet dogfights or as an individual user in the highly realistic experience of flight.  The experience is 30 mins where, you get into a flight suit and the operator guides you through the technical aspects of the essentials of flying and you are in control of your machine and can choose your scenery from around the world. 

There is also plans to install a Bristol F2B simulator.  It will be the only one of its kind in the world.  The Bristol was a World War 1 (WW1) fighter bomber bi-plane that later enjoyed a life in civil use in the 1920s.

Lastly, we reported in May that QFOM Management became aware of ground movement underneath the nose of museums Boeing 747-200 VH-EBQ.  Several surveys were conducted to try and determine the stability of the ground around the nose of the plane. To ensure safety of the museum's visitors, QFOM management decided to restrict all access to VH-EBQ until the ground around the nose of jumbo could be stabilised.

After seeking the opinion of several engineers and surveyors, a course of action was agreed on and in early June work began to stabilise the ground surrounding the nose of the VH-EBQ.  After days of lifting the jumbo with heavy cranes, reconcretting the affected areas, and then gently lowering VH-EBQ back onto its new concrete plinth, B747-200 VH-EBQ was re-opened for tours in late June.

Tours of VH-EBQ are now available through the Museum and Jet Tour package which includes museum entry and a tour of the Boeing 747 VH-EBQ, as well as the Boeing B707 VH-XBA.  The Museum is open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm (except Christmas Day) and is located at Longreach Airport, Sir Hudson Fysh Drive, Longreach, Qld, 4730.  The Museum website can be found HERE.

Colourful Regional Express (REX) SAAB 340B VH-ZJS at Emerald Airport Tuesday Night

Central Queensland Plane Spotters have become familiar with Regional Express (REX) SAAB 340B VH-ZXS which wears a very attractive bright green colour scheme - it is a frequent visitor to Emerald Airport - operating fly-in fly-out (FIFO) flights from and back to Brisbane on behalf of AERgO.

However, its equally brightly coloured sister-ship - SAAB 340B VH-ZJS - has recently arrived in Queensland, and has finally made a visit to Emerald Airport as well!

VH-ZJS arrived into Emerald Airport just before dusk on Tuesday 6 November.  Let's hope that it is the first of many visits in the coming weeks!

Until recently, VH-ZJS was actually based in Townsville and has been noted operating several scheduled Regional Express (REX) flights from Townsville to Longreach (via Winton) and return.

VH-ZJS is still carrying the basic colours of its previous operator Happy Air in Thailand, where it operated for some time as HS-HPI.